H.S. boys swimming: Shane McNamara on the right path

Ten years ago, Don Bosco’s Shane McNamara didn’t seem destined to be one of North Jersey’s best swimmers.

McNamara sustained a severe concussion at soccer camp, and though the injury was not life-threatening, he had trouble focusing, couldn’t play contact sports for a year, and had to avoid risky physical activity for several years.

He suffered from migraines and experienced retrograde amnesia, which caused him to lose all memory prior to the concussion.

"It was a pretty scary time for me and my parents. It was tough, but everything happens for a reason," said McNamara, 17, a senior from Tappan, N.Y.

"What Shane planned to do his whole life, which was play soccer, was changed in a moment,’ said his mother, Margaret. "It was devastating, but it ended up being a serendipitous event in his life."

At the suggestion of his neurologist, McNamara took up swimming and quickly took to the sport. "His coaches couldn’t believe how much of a natural he was," Margaret said..

Fast forward a decade and McNamara is ranked the No. 2 swimmer in New York by Collegeswimming.com. He is an honors student and is committed to Harvard in the fall.

"I don’t have too much free time with swimming, homework and family time, but I love it."

Don Bosco coach Ed Catherina showered praise on his star senior.

"Shane has showed great character through the years I’ve coached him," he said. "He’s a very humble, coachable young man. He’s never put himself ahead of the team, and he’s very, very focused on his schoolwork. He works so hard and I couldn’t have asked any more of him."

McNamara has dominated Don Bosco’s dual meets all season. He swept his individual events at the Bergen Meet of Champions and Big North United Division championships.

He set county meet records in the 100 breast stroke with a 56.94, and the 50 freestyle with a 21.58.

At the division championships, he won both events. He’s also been stellar for Don Bosco’s relay teams and continues to compete for the Empire Swimming club team.

McNamara now looks at the concussion as a positive event in his life.

"I’m in some ways happy for what happened," he said, "because I wouldn’t be the swimmer or person I am now. It was really a new beginning for my life, literally."